Automatic and manual time switch



July 12, 1966 R. D. RULSEH ETAL 3,260,807

AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL TIME SWITCH Filed Dec. 23, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS William H Pierson Roger B Ifulsdo ATTORNEY July 12, 1966 R. u s ETAL 3,260,807

AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL TIME SWITCH Filed Dec. 23, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ H 7.5. i INVENTORS William 11. Piersaz Eager D Bulseb BY W/W ATTORNEY July 12, 1966 R. D. RULSEH ETAL 3,260,807

AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL TIME SWITCH Filed Dec. 23, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wzz ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,260,807 Patented July 12, 1966 AUTOMATIE AND MANUAL TIME SWITCH Roger David Rnlseh, Two Rivers, and William Horace Pierson, Manitowoc, Wis., assignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 332,677 Claims. (Cl. 20038) This invention relates generally to a time-controlled device, and more particularly to an improved time controlled switch for automatic and manual operation.

The switch of the present invention is particularly adapted to control the operation of appliances commonly found in the home, for example, television receivers, radios, electric coffee pots, and other similar appliances. In the use of the time switch of this invention, the appliance is plugged into a receptacle associated with the time switch, and the appliance is then controlled wholly at the time switch, the time switch being operable to automatically and/or manually control .the appliance.

In the past, many attempts have been made to devise a time switch having the operating capabilities of the time switch of this invention. However, such devices have been unduly complex, or have been quite difficult for the user .to operate. In fact, the operation of some previously known time switches is so complex that it is necessary to adjust two or three different knobs manually to effect the desired operation of the time switch, and hence the user frequently becomes so confused that the use of the time switch is discontinued. In other known time switches, where the operation of the time switch is simple enough for the user to easily set manually, the operating parts of the switch are so complex that the switch cannot be manufactured economically. In some of the known time switches, a single actuator is movable between four, five, and even six different positions to obtain the control functions that are provided by the time switch of this invention.

In the time switch of this invention, a single actuator is provided for both manually and automatically controlling the operation of the time switch. The actuator includes a lever movable only between a first position and a second position, both manually and automatically, to control a switch. Manually operable restraining means are provided to fix the lever in each of its positions. Because of this unique arrangement, the two-position lever is operable to perform six different control operations of the time switch. When the lever is in its first position, the switch is off and the lever functions to control three operations from its first position. When the lever is in its second position, the switch is on, and the lever functions to control three additional operations from its second position.

When the lever is in its first position and the switch is off, the three control operations that can be performed at the time switch unit are:

(1) Manual movement of the lever from its first position (switch off) to its second position (switch on) to manually switch on the controlled appliance, for example, a radio.

(2) Automatic movement of the lever from its first position (switch off) to its second position (switch on) to automatically switch on the radio at a preset time.

(3) Manual operation of the restraining means to fix the lever in its first position (switch off) to prevent movement of the lever either manually or automatically and thus maintain the switch in a continuous off position.

When the lever is in its second position and the switch is on, three additional control operations that can be performed are:

(1) Manual movement of the lever from its second position (switch on) to its first position (switch off) to manually switch off the radio.

(2) Automatic movement of the lever from its second position (switch on) to its first position (switch off) to automatically switch off the radio at a preset time.

(3) Manual operation of the restraining means to fix the lever in its second position (switch on) to prevent movement of the lever either manually or automatically and thus maintain the switch in a continuous on position.

The manually operable restraining device that is effective to fix the lever in either of its positions effectively blocks the lever against movement automatically, manually, or accidentally; for example, if the switch unit is inadvertently dropped; Hence, when the lever is fixed in each of its positions, the time switch is referred to as being in a continuous on or continuous off position.

The aforementioned operational functions of the time switch of this invention are achieved by a unique arrangement of elements including a trip arm resiliently coupled to a switch actuating lever, so that tripping lugs of the automatic switch operator can move only the trip arm, against the resilience of the coupling when the lever is in one of its restrained positions.

Thus, an object of this invention is to provide an improved time switch having an actuating lever movable to only two positions to control six different operation functions of the time switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a time controlled switch which is manually and automatically operable to control the operation of an electrical device.

Another object is to provide a time switch having an actuating lever movable to only two positions, and a restraining device to restrain the lever against movement from either of its positions.

Another object is to provide a time switch having a housing in which the various operating elements are mounted in a particularly advantageous arrangement to reduce both the cost of manufacture of the operating elements and the cost of assembly of the time switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a time controlled switch which is manually and automatically operable to switch an electrical device ofi or on, and in which the manual control is eifective to override the operation of the automatic control.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic and manually operated switch that is simple to operate so that its use will not be confusing to an unskilled user.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a time switch which is simple to operate, and which is inexpensive to manufacture, is rugged and reliable, and in which the internal operating elements are of simple basic construction.

In order that the manner in which these and other objects are attained in accordance with the invention can be understood in detail, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the time switch showing several operating elements thereof including a receptacle into which the electrical device which is controlled can be plugged;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in side elevation, looking along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the under-side of the dial, looking along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the edge of the dial, looking along the lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the time switch with a portion of the dial cut away for clarity to show the internal elements of the time switch;

FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of the time switch of FIGS. 1 and 6;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, in front elevation, of several of the operating elements of the switch; and

FIGS. 8ll are fragmentary side elevational views of the switch actuator and switch looking along lines 88 of FIG. 7, the operating elements being shown in their various operating positions with:

FIG. 8 showing the actuator in its first position (switch off), and the actuator free to be moved to its second position (switch on) either manually or automatically;

FIG. 9 showing the actuator in its second position (switch on), and the actuator free to be moved to its first position (switch off) manually or automatically;

FIG. 10 showing the actuator restrained in its first position (switch off) with only its trip arm being moved by the on-trip lug without changing the position of the actuator, or operating the switch;

FIG. 11 showing the actuator restrained in its second position (switch on) with only its trip arm being moved by the off-trip lug without changing the position of the actuator, or operating the switch; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical circuit of the time switch.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the time switch of this invention includes a housing 1, a motor 2, a dial 3, a gear train 4, an electrical switch 5, and a switch actuator 6.

Housing 1, which provides a support for the other components of the time switch, is molded from plastic material, the housing being generally rectangular in front elevation and top elevation. Housing 1 has a generally rectangular top wall 7, a generally rectangular bottom wall 8 and generally rectangular side walls 9 and 10 integral with the top and bottom walls. At the front of the housing is a front wall 11 having a centrally located circular opening 12. A flat plate 13 is attached to the rear of the housing with screws so that the plate can be removed for access to the housing, the flat plate being disposed generally parallel with front wall 11. Parallel with front wall 11 is a partition 14 formed integral with the housing that divides the housing into a front chamber 15 and a rear chamber 16. Partition 14 provides fiat mounting surfaces parallel with both front wall 11 and flat plate 13 for mounting the various elements of the time switch in the housing. Projecting from partition 14 is an integral tubular spacer member 17 that is concentric with circular opening 12 in housing 11. Tubular spacer 17 is integral with partition 14 and has a flat transverse annular end 18 which faces dial 3.

Dial 3, which is circular, is stamped from sheet material and has a generally flat exposed face 19 and a short peripheral wall 20 that projects in a direction away from exposed face 19. Dial 3 is fixed to an enlarged end 21 of a shaft 22 so that the dial rotates with the shaft. The shaft is located at the center of the dial and projects through a circular opening in tubular spacer 17, the shaft 22 extending slightly beyond partition 14. End 21 of shaft 22 has a reduced diameter portion on which a pair of trippers 23 and 24 are mounted for movement circumferentially of shaft 22 and dial 3. Each tripper is stamped from springy sheet metal and is in the form of a flat arm having an enlarged end that is provided with a central bore of compatible diameter with the portion of shaft end 21 on which the trippers are mounted. The trippers 23 and 24 are prevented from moving axially of shaft 22 by a collar 25 having a flat transverse annular surface 26 that presses the trippers toward the underside of dial 3, when the collar is mounted on the shaft as shown in FIG. 2.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, trippers 23 and 24 extend radially from shaft 22 and are disposed in adjacent parallel planes that are parallel with dial 3 and are spaced only slighty from the undersurface of the dial. Each tripper extends radially of the dial and has a U-shaped end 27 into which the terminal edge of peripheral wall 29 extends. The terminal edge of wall 20 is provided with ratchet teeth 28 that coact wtih struck-up fingers 29 in the base of each of the U-shaped ends 27 of the trippers to positively drive the trippers in a clockwise direction when the dial is rotated by the motor. The free leg of each of the U-shaped ends 27 of trippers 23 and 24 is provided with a plastic material pointer 30 of L-shaped cross section, one leg of the L being parallel with wall 20 and the other leg of the L, which tapers to a point, extending slightly inwardly across the exposed face 19 of the dial.

Tripper 23 is formed with a trip lug 31 and tripper 24 is formed with a trip lug 32, each trip lug projecting perpendicularly away from dial 3. Trip lug 31 is closer to the center of dial 3 than trip lug 32, so that the circular paths traversed by the trip lugs when the dial is rotated are concentric, the circular path of trip lug 31 being inside the circular path of trip lug 32. In the embodiment illustrated, trip lug 31 operates to automatically move actuator 6 to a position in which the contacts of switch 5 are open, whereas trip lug 32 operates to move the actuator to its other position in which the contacts of switch 5 are closed.

The pointers 30 indicate the time at which the trippers will operate the switch, and also provide members engageable by the finger of the user of the time switch to preset the time at which the trippers will operate the switch. Adjustment of the trippers is accomplished by pushing the desired pointer toward face 19 of the dial to disengage finger 29 from ratchet teeth 28, whereupon the pointer can be moved circumferentially in either direction to set the tripper for operation of the switch at any desired time.

Motor 2 is a self-starting alternating current synchronous motor of the type normally used in timing devices. The motor assembly includes a self-contained reduction gear unit which drives a pinion gear 33. Drive train 4 includes a spur gear 34 that is driven by pinion gear 33, spur gear 34 being secured to a bushing 35, which is coupled to shaft 22 by a conventional helical spring one-way clutch 3e.

Motor assembly 2 and gear train 4 drive dial 3- at the rate of one revolution a day. The exposed face '19 of the dial is provided with suitable indicia to indicate each of the twenty-four hours of the day, so that the trippers can be properly set for operation of the switch at the desired time.

The motor 2 is disposed in rear chamber 16 of the housing and is secured to partition 14 by suitable threaded fasteners. Pinion gear 33 projects into a cylindrical recess 37 in that portion of partition 14 that faces toward motor 2 to engage spur gear 34 which is also in the recess.

Switch 5 includes a movable contact 38 and a stationary contact 39. Movable contact 38 is secured to an electrically conductive flat spring contact arm 40 at a position slightly spaced from an end of the arm that has a V-shaped notch 41. The other end of arm 40 is fixed to a surface 42 of a wall of the housing, the surface 42 being disposed in a plane parallel with front wall 1 1 and partition 14 and spaced therebetween. Surface 42 of the housing provides a support for contact arm 40, the support being offset to ward bottom wall 8 of the housing. The contact arm 40 is so mounted on surface 42 that the arm extends in a generally vertical direction from the lower part of the housing to a location adjacent the horizontal center line of the housing, the contact arm being disposed in a plane parallel with front wall 11 so that movement of movable contact 38 is in a direction toward and away from front wall 11. Stationary contact 39 is fixed adjacent the end of a rigid contact arm 43, the arm being formed of sheet metal having good electrically conducting properties. Contact arm 43 is bent to provide a flat portion 44 that supports stationary contact 39 and a fiat portion 45 remote from stationary contact 39, the flat portions being essentially parallel, with flat portion 44 disposed in a plane spaced from the plane of contact arm 40 and the. fiat pot tion coplanar with the portion of contact arm 40 that is mounted on surface 42. Contact arm 43 is inclined toward contact arm 40 to provide an overlap at the ends of the contact arms, with the contacts 38 and 39 in alignment.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, switch actuator 6 has a circular shaft 46, a lever assembly including a lever 47 and an insulated switch operating member 48 pivotally mounted on the shaft, and a trip arm 49 pivotally mounted on the shaft on the side of the lever opposite the operating member. Trip arm 49 is resiliently coupled to lever 47 by a spring 50 between the lever and the trip arm. Switch operating member 48 is rigidly coupled to the lever 47 by a pin 51 so that the lever and switch operating member move as a unit.

Lever 47 is substantially flat, being stamped from rigid sheet metal, and includes a body portion 52. Projecting downwardly from body portion 52 is a nose 53 that has a rectangular tab '54 adjacent its lower end. Tab 54 is bent to extend toward trip arm 49 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lever. Between tab 54 and shaft 46 is a circular opening 55 of sutficient diameter to loosely accommodate pin 51 and into which the pin slides when the lever assembly is assembled. Extending from the side of body portion 52 opposite the nose, and coplanar with the nose, is a narrow leg 56 which extends upwardly through a slot 57 in top wall 7 of the housing and terminates at a flat tip 58 outside the housing. Projecting from body portion 52 in a direction generally at right angles to nose 53 and leg 54 and in a radial direction relative to shaft 46 is an integral rectangular element 59 that extends into a recess 60 of rectangular section, formed in partition 14. The recess 60 has spaced-apart stop faces 61 and 62 that engage the side edges of rectangular member 59 to limit the pivotal movement of the lever relative to shaft 46.

Switch operating member 48 is an elongated, flat dielectric member. A stud 63 having a reduced diameter neck 64 is fixed to the end of operating member 48 opposite the end which is supported by shaft 46. The stud projects from operating member 48 in a direction away from lever 47, the axis of the stud being substantially parallel with the axis of shaft 46. Lock pin 51 is fixed to operating member 48 between shaft 46 and stud 63 so that the pin projects toward lever 47 with the axis of pin 51 parallel with the axis of shaft 46. The axes of pin 5'] and circular opening 55 of lever 47 are the same distance from the axis of shaft 46 so that pin 51 will enter opening 55 when operating member 48 is moved laterally toward lever 47.

Trip arm 49 is formed of rigid sheet metal and'has a flat body portion 65 that extends in the same direction as nose 53 of lever 47. The lower end of body '65 has a rectangular tip 66 that is bent at rig-ht angles to body 65 to project toward lever 47. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, rectangular tab 54 and tip 66 are of the same width and are disposed in parallel planes that are slightly spaced apart to prevent engagement of tip 66 with tab 59 so that trip arm 49 can pivot relative to lever 47. The end edge of tip 66 is also slightly spaced from the nose 53 of lever 47 to provide an operating clearance. A portion of body 65 is cut away, as at 67 and 68, to provide a rectangular trip finger 69 that is bent at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the plane of body 65 in a direction away from lever 47. Trip finger 69 projects generally horizontally toward dial 3, the end edge of the trip finger being slightly spaced from the flat portions of trippers 23 and 24 so that only trip lugs 31 and 32 will engage the trip finger when the dial is rotated.

Spring 50 is a torsion spring having several helical convolutions '70, and free ends 71 and 72 that project from each end of the several convolutions. The spring is prestressed by pulling the ends in opposite directions to more tightly wind the spring, whereupon end 71 is moved over one side edge of rectangular tip 66 and end 72 is moved across the other side edge of rectangular tip 66 to maintain the spring in its torsionally stressed condition. The ends 71 and 72 of the spring are bent inwardly toward each other, as best seen in FIG. 7, so that the straight portions of the ends are in adjacent parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of shaft 46.

Lever 47 and operating member 48 are mounted on a bushing 73 having several integral cylindrical portions concentric with an axially extending bore for mounting the bushing on shaft 46. Bushing 73 has stepped cylindrical portions 74 and 75 of successively smaller diameter projecting axially from one side of a large diameter cylindrical portion having flat annular side faces, and a short cylindrical portion 76 projecting from the other side of the large diameter cylindrical portion. The end of operating member 48 opposite stud 63 has a bore with a slightly smaller diameter than cylindrical portion 74 so that operating member 48 can be forced onto portion 74 into engagement With one side face of the larger diameter portion. An opening in body 52 of lever 47 has a diameter slightly larger than cylindrical portion 76 to permit sliding the lever onto the bushing in such a manner that pin 51 projects through circular opening 55. The lever is then fixed to the bushing by mechanically deforming the exposed face of portion 76.

Trip arm 49 is mounted on a bushing 77 having several stepped cylindrical portions of successively smaller diameter. An opening in the trip arm allows the arm to he slipped over a cylindrical portion 78 into engagement with a transverse shoulder, whereupon the portion 78 is deformed to prevent axial movement of the trip arm relative to bushing 77. Integral with portion 78 is a larger cylindrical portion having a diameter only slightly less than the inside diameter of the convolutions 70 of spring 50 to permit sliding spring 50 axially onto bushing 77. During such assembly of spring and bushing, the ends 71 and 72 of the spring are pulled in opposite directions, circumferentially of the bushing, to prestress the spring, whereupon the spring is moved axially onto the bushing so that the ends 71, 72 are disposed on opposite side edges of tip 66.

Switch actuator 6 is then assembled by slipping bushing 73 onto shaft 46, and then slipping bushing 77 onto the shaft with rectangular tab 54 radially aligned with tip 66 so that ends 71 and 72 of spring 50 are on opposite side edges of the rectangular tab. When so assembled, it is apparent that lever 47 is rigidly coupled to operating member 48 by pin 51 so the lever and operating member pivot in unison about shaft 46. Since trip arm 49 is resiliently coupled to lever 47 by torsion spring 50, the lever and trip arm normally move in unison about shaft 46. However, when lever 47 is held stationary and trip finger 69 is engaged by either trip lug 31 or 32, the trip arm can pivot relative to the lever against the action of the torsion spring 50.

Projecting from partition 14 in a direction toward the dial are a pair of shaft supports 79 that are molded integral with the housing. Supports 79 are secured to the upper portion of the side wall of front chamber 15 and terminate at flat vertical surfaces 80 that are coplanar. Each support is provided with a U-shaped notch 81, 82 having a height and depth that are slightly greater than the diameter of shaft 46. The notches extend through those sides of supports 79 which face each other and are in substantial alignment to provide bearing surfaces to mount shaft 46 for pivotal movement. notches, the sides of supports 79 which face each other are provided with fiat parallel surfaces spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the combined length of bushings 73 and 77 to prevent axial movement of the elements of switch actuator 6 when the actuator is mounted in the housing. To mount the switch actuator in the housing, it is necessary to manipulate the switch actuator assembly so that leg 56 of the lever passes through slot 57, whereupon the ends of shaft 46 are placed Adjacent the '7 in notches 81 and 82. Shaft 46 is held in the notches by a pair of fillister head screws 83 that are threaded into supports 79, the enlarged head of each screw functioning to hold the ends of shaft 46 in the notches.

Thus, switch actuator 6 is mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis of shaft 46. Shaft 46 is parallel with exposed face 19 of dial 3 and is mounted in supports 79 ofiset toward top wall 7 from the horizontal centerline of the housing. The supported end of flat contact arm 40 defines a vertical plane and the axis of shaft 46 lies in this plane. Hence, when lever 47 is pivoted to one position, stud 63 is disposed on one side of this plane and when the lever is pivoted in the other direction, the stud is disposed on the other side of this plane. In other words, the movement of stud 63 is such that the stud passes through the centerline of the contact arm 40 during movement from one position to the other. This through-center feature is used to assure positive snap action of the contacts when the lever is pivoted from one of its positions to the other.

Extending between stud 63 and V-shaped notch 41 is an S-shaped force transmitting spring 84. The ends of spring 84 are bent to provide a pair of shallow U-shaped portions that face in opposite directions. The spring is stressed by applying a force at the U-shaped portions, whereupon one U-shaped portion is placed in notch 41 and the other on the neck 64 of stud 63 to mount the spring between the actuator and movable contact arm 40. Since each of the U-shaped portions of the spring pivots relative to the member it engages, the line of action of the force between lever 47 and contact arm 40 continuously changes during movement of the lever. When the line of action of the force passes through the centerline of contact arm 40, the spring is effective to snap the contact arm 40 to a different position. Since the movement of contact arm 40 in one direction is limited by engagement of movable contact 38 with stationary contact 39, and in the other direction by engagement of contact arm 40 with a fixed support (not shown), the free end of the contact arm always remains within limits where the line of action of the force from spring 84 will pass through the centerline of the contact arm to snap the arm to its other position. The spring 84 and movable contact arm 40 have sufiicient bias to maintain the lever in the position to which it is moved. This arrangement provides an overcenter switch with a first stable position when the switch is on and a second stable position when the switch is off. Therefore, when the lever is pivoted so that the line of action of the force from spring 84 approaches the centerline of contact arm 40, the system becomes unstable and always moves to one of its stable positions to operate the switch with a snap action.

A narrow elongated recess 85 of rectangular cross section is formed in top wall 7 of vertical surface 86 of wall 7, whereas the other end communicates with slot 57 through which leg 56 of the lever extends. Disposed in recess 85 for rectilinear movement is a restraining member 87, formed from fiat rigid sheet metal, that has an elongated rectangular leg 88 disposed in the recess and a rounded end portion projecting upwardly perpendicular to leg 88 to extend above the top surface of top wall 7. Recess 85 is so located that when restraining member 87 is moved to :move rectangular leg 87 into slot 57, the rectangular leg is midway between the front and rear sides of slot 57. Leg 56 of the lever where it passes through slot 57 is so dimensioned that rectangular leg 88 can be moved between a side edge of leg 56 and the remote side of the slot 57 to prevent movement of the lever from whichever position it is in when the restraining member 87 is operated. Restraining member 87 is retained in recess 86 by a cover plate 89 having downwardly extending portions 90 that frictionally engage with the ends of slot 57 to hold the cover plate in position.

Cover plate 89 has a slot 89' through which the round end of restraining member 87 extends. The edges of slot 89 limit the movement of restraining member 87. At the bottom of recess is a leaf spring 91 that engages the bottom edge of rectangular leg 88 of restraining member 87. Spring 91 pushes leg 88 against the cover plate to frictionally retain restraining member 87 in that position to which it is moved manually.

As best seen in FIG. 6, cover plate 89 is inscribed with indicia to indicate the condition of the time switch by the positions of operating knobs 92 and 93 attached, respec tively, to tip 58 of lever 47 and the rounded end portion of restraining member 87. Knobs 92 and 93 are provided to facilitate operation of the lever 47 and lock member 86 by engagement with the finger or thumb of the user. The indicia on cover plate 89 show both the on and off positions for operating knob 92 and the lock and automatic positions for the knob 93 of restraining member 87.

Current for motor 2 is supplied through conductors 94 and 95 which are connected, respectively, to prongs 96 and 97 of the plug portion of a combined plug-socket 98. The socket portion is superposed on the plug portion and has contact blades 99 and 100 so that the appliance which is controlled can be plugged into the socket. A wire 101 is connected between contact blade 99 and one side of switch 6, the other side of switch 6 being connected to conductor 94. With this arrangement, the appliance can be plugged directly into the socket portion of plug-socket 98 and then be controlled wholly by switch 6. The advantage of the socket and plug in the same molded body is that the appliance plug is located adjacent the normal household receptacle (not shown) and the time switch can then be placed at a convenient location for operation of the appliance, since the appliance cord does not extend to the housing of the time switch. Whenever plug-socket 98 is plugged into a suitable household receptacle, current is supplied to motor 2 to drive the dial of the time switch. Since contact blade 100 is directly connected to prong 97, current is always available at one side of the socket portion of plug-socket 98. Conductor 99 is connected to prong 96 via switch 5 so that current to this side of the socket, and hence to the appliance, is controlled by the switch. Hence, the current to the appliance plugged into the socket portion of plug-socket 98 can be controlled merely by operating the switch actuator to operate the switch.

Assembly Due to the arrangement of the housing and the various elements of the time switch, assembly of the time switch is a relatively simple operation. After switch actuator 6 has been assembled, as previously described, the actuator 1s mounted as shown in FIG. 5 with leg 56 extending through slot 57 and the ends of shaft 46 disposed in notches 81 and 82. Screws 83 are then threaded into supports 79 to hold the shaft ends in the notches. Movable contact arm 40 is then secured to surface 4 of the partition with screw 102, and contact arm 43 is similarly secured with a screw 103. Screws 102 and 103 extend through the partition to provide binding posts for connecting wire 101 and conductor 94 to the contact arms. The S-shaped force-transmitting spring 84- is then mounted between stud 63 and the V-shaped notch of contact arm 40, the spring being held in position by its own spring forces.

The dial assembly, including dial 3, shaft 22, trippers 23 and 24 and collar 25, is inserted in the bore of tubular spacer 17 so that shaft 22 extends into recess 37 and collar 25 engages the transverse annular end 18 of spacer 17. Gear train 4, including gear 34, bushing 35 and, clutch 36, is pushed onto shaft 22 from rear chamber 16 of the housing and is held in posit-ion on the shaft by a suitable fastener, for example, a half-moon washer that seats in a groove at the end of shaft 22.

Motor 2 is then positioned in rear chamber 16 so that pinion 33 meshes with spur gear 34 and the motor is secured to partition 14 by screw 104. When the necessary electrical connections are made in accordance with the wiring diagram of FIG. 12, plate 13 is fastened to the rear of the housing by screws 1105.

Restraining member 87 is then positioned in recess 85 and cover plate 89 is pressed into slot 57. Knobs 92 and 93 are then attached, respectively, to lever 47 and restraining member 87, and the time switch is ready for operation.

Operation To control the operation of an appliance with the time switch, the plug of the appliance is inserted in the socket portion of plug-socket 98 which is then inserted in a standard electrical receptacle. The operation of the appliance is then controlled, both automatically and manually, by switch 5.

After motor 2 is energized, dial 3 is set to correspond to the time of day by rotating the dial in a clockwise direction. Such clockwise rotation is possible because of one-way clutch 36 which permits manual rotation of the dial in a clockwise direction, but not in a counterclockwise direction.

The appliance, when plugged into the plug-socket 98, can be manually controlled by manipulating lever 47 to its first position in which the contacts are open, as shown in FIG. 8, and hence the appliance is olf, or by manipulating the lever to its second position in which the contacts are in engagement, as shown in FIG. 9, and the appliance IS on.

When it is desired to automatically control the appliance, for example, a radio, to turn the radio on at a predetermined time, the on tripper 24 is set to the desired time by pressing pointer 30 toward dial 3, thus freeing the tripper from the ratchet teeth of the dial so that the trippercan be adjusted. With the switch oif, as shown in FIG. 8, trip finger 69 projects into the circular path of travel of on trip lug 32 of tripper 24. As the dial rotates, trip lug 32 engages trip finger 69 to gradually pivot the lever toward its second position. As soon as the line of action of the force of S-shaped spring 84 passes through the centerline of movable contact arm 40, the spring and contact arm are effective to pivot the lever to its second position in which the switch is on, as shown in FIG. 9. Although trip arm 49 is resiliently coupled to lever 47 by torsion spring 50, the tors-ion spring is sufficiently rigid t normally move the lever when the trip arm is moved by the engagement of trip lug 32 with trip finger 69.

If it is desired to automatically turn the radio oif, off tripper 23 is set to the desired time and lever 47 is automatically pivoted back to its first position when off trip lug 31 engages trip finger 69, as shown in FIG. 8.

Because of the provision of manual on and off and automatic on and oif, the trippers 23 and 24 can be set to turn the radio off at any desired time and on at any desired time, or these operations can be controlled manually. If it is desired that the radio play for a short period of time in the morning to awaken a person, the on tripper 24 is set, for example, to 7:30 a.m. to automatically turn the radio on at that time. The off tripper 23 can also be set, for example, at 8:30 a.m. to automatically turn the radio off after a person has departed for the day. When the person returns in the evening, he can turn the radio on manually by moving the lever to its second position, in which switch 5, and hence the radio, is on. p

The time switch can also be controlled to override the automatic operation of the switch. This is accomplished by moving restraining member 87 so that rectangular leg 88 extends between leg 56 of the lever and the remote side of slot 57. Hence, if the person is going away for a weekend, it is not necessary to unplug the radio or turn off the switch of the radio to prevent the radio from playing during the weekend. It is only necessary to move the restrainingmember, as shown in FIG. 7, to the left to block the movement of lever 47. As shown in FIG. 10, movement of the restraining member to its blocking position locks lever 47 against movement when on" trip lug 32 engages trip finger 69. When the restraining member is in its lock-on position, as shown in FIG. 10, trip lug 32 is effective to move only trip arm 49 against the bias of torsion spring 50 without moving lever 47 or operating the switch. The force from lug 32 pivots trip arm 49 to move end 71 of the spring against the torsional resistance of the spring because of the engagement of tip 66 of the trip arm with this end of the spring. End 72 of the spring, however, remains stationary, since this end engages rectangular tab 54 of the now locked lever 47 As soon as trip lug 32 passes finger 69, spring 50 is effective to pivot the trip arm to its original position, in which tip 66 is radially aligned with tab 54 relative to the axis of shaft 46.

It is also possible to maintain the switch on against automatic operation of the switch to its off position. If the person is at home, for example, on a Saturday, and does not want the radio turned off automatically, it is merely necessary to move restraining member 87 to lock the lever in its on position, as shown in FIG. 11. When the lever is locked on, and off tripper 31 engages trip finger 69, trip finger 69 pivots the trip arm against the bias of spring 50, but does not move lever 47 to operate the switch. In this situation, end 72 of the spring is moved against the torsion of the spring by tip 66 of the trip arm, whereas end 71 remains stationary, being in engagement with the edge of tab 54 of the lever, which does not move. After trip lug 31 passes trip finger 69, trip arm 49 is returned to its original position by the action of torsion spring 50. When restraining member 87 is again moved so that rectangular leg 88 does not block lever 47, the switch is again operated automatically.

Hence, three dilferent control functions can be performed when lever 47 is in its first position (switch olf) and three different operational functions can be controlled when the lever is in its second position (switch on). When the lever is in its first position (switch off), the switch can be turned on manually, can be turned on automatically, or can be locked to maintain the switch in a continuous off position.

When lever 47 is in its second position (switch on), the switch can be turned off manually, can be turned off automatically, or the lever can be lock-ed to maintain the switch in a continuous on position.

Hence, applicant has provided a time switch with a lever that is movable only between two positions, in which the lever is effective to control six different operational functions of the switch with which it is associated, and the switch in turn is effective to control an electrical device in accordance with these functions.

While only one specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. For illustrative purposes, the disclosed embodiment shows the time switch in an upright housing with the dial face vertical and rotatable about a horizontal axis. It is within the contemplated scope of this invention that the time switch can be disposed in various positions and that the scope of the invention is as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a time switch, the combination of a support;

an electrical switch including contacts mounted on said support;

a switch actuator operating said switch, said actuator being operable to a first position to open said switch contacts, and a second position to close said switch contacts;

manual means moving said actuator to said first and second positions to manually operate said switch;

first time controlled means automatically moving said actuator from said first position to said second posillll tion to close said switch contacts at a preselected time;

second time controlled means automatically moving said actuator from said second position to said first position to open said switch contacts at a preselected time;

said time controlled means each being manually adjustable to preset the time at which they move said actuator; and

manually operable restraining means selectively locking said actuator in said first position, and in said second position against the action of said first and second time controlled means, to prevent automatic operation of said switch by said time controlled means, when said restraining means is operated.

2. A time switch in accordance with claim 1 in which said actuator is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis, and said actuator comprises a lever mounted for pivotal movement about said axis,

movement of said lever being effective to operate said switch,

a trip arm mounted for pivotal movement about said axis, and

coupling means for normally coupling said trip arm to said lever for pivotal movement therewith upon op eration of said trip arm by said time controlled means,

said coupling means being effective to permit pivotal movement of said trip arm relative to said lever in a first direction and in a second direc tion opposite to said first direction under the action of said first and second time controlled means without operating said switch upon operation of said restraining means.

3. A time switch in accordance with claim 1 which further includes a spring connected between said actuator and said switch to normally maintain said actuator in the one of said positions to which it is moved by said first and second time controlled means and by said manual means for moving said actuator.

4. A time switch in accordance with claim l in which said manually operable restraining means is a rectilinearly slidable member that engages said actuator when said restraining means is operated.

5. A time switch in accordance with claim 4 in which operation of said manually operable restraining means is effective to prevent both automatic operation and manual operation of said switch.

6. In a time switch for automatic and manual operation, the combination of a support;

an electrical switch including contacts mounted on said support;

a switch actuator mounted on said support and comprising a lever mounted for pivotal movement about an axis, a trip arm operatively associated with said lever, spring means resiliently coupling said trip arm to said lever to normally move said lever upon movement of said trip arm, said lever being pivotally operable to a first position in which said actuator opens said switch contacts, and to a second position in which said actuator closes said switch contacts;

manual means connected to said actuator for operating said actuator to manually operate said switch; time controlled means automatically operating said actuator at preselected times, said means comprising a dial, a first tripping lug carried by said dial, and a second tripping lug carried by said dial, said first and second tripping lugs engaging said trip arm to move said trip arm and said lever from one of said positions to the other, and

restraining means engaging, said lever and manually operable between a first position in which said lever moves with said trip arm, and a second position in which said lever is fixed against movement by said trip arm,

operation of said restraining means to said second position being etfective to prevent automatic operation of said actuator;

said spring means being sutficiently resilient to permit movement of said trip arm by said tripping lugs while said lever is fixed.

7. A time switch in accordance with claim 6 in which said dial is time controlled to rotate one revolution per day, and

said tripping lugs are each manually adjustable to preset the time at which said actuator is automatically operated.

8. A time switch in accordance with claim 6 in which said manual means for operating said actuator is a manually engageable portion of said lever remote from the pivotal mount of said lever, and

said restraining means engages said lever at a location between the pivotal mount of said lever and the manually engageable portion of said lever.

9. In a time switch for automatic and manual operation a support;

a switch including contacts mounted on said support;

a lever mounted on said support for pivotal movement about a fixed axis, said lever being movable only between a first position to open said contacts and a second position to close said contacts;

manually operable means connected to said lever for selectively moving said lever to either of said positions to manually operate said contacts;

a restraining device engaging said lever and manually operable to a first position to restrain said lever from movement from either of its positions, and to a second position in which said lever is free to move;

a trip arm mounted pivotally on the same axis as said lever;

spring means between said trip arm and said lever to resiliently couple said trip arm to said lev'er;

first and second time controlled means engageable with said trip arm at preselected times to move said trip arm first in one direction and then in an opposite direction about said axis,

movement of said trip arm, when said restraining means is in said second position, being effective to move said lever via said spring means to operate said contacts;

movement of said trip arm, when said restraining means is in said first position, being effective to move said trip arm against the bias of said spring means without moving said lever.

10. A time switch in accordance with claim 9 in which said trip arm and said lever are disposed in side-by-side relation on said axis; and

saidspring means is a prestressed torsion spring in engagement with a portion of said lever and a portion of said trip arm.

11. In a time switch for manual and automatic operation:

a housing;

a dial mounted on said housing for rotation relative to said housing, said dial having an exposed face; an electric motor and gear train in said housing to drive said dial at a constant speed;

a switchincluding contacts mounted in said housing;

a lever mounted in said housing for pivotal movement about a fixed axis, said lever being pivotally movable between a first position to open said contacts and a second position to close said contacts;

said lever projecting outside said housing to provide an exposed portion for manually moving said lever to manually operate said contacts;

lock means carried by said housing at a location ad'- jacent saidexposed portion of said lever,

said lock means being manually movable independently of said lever to a first position to restrain said lever from movement, and to a second position in which said lever is free to move;

a trip arm mounted in said housing for pivotal movement about the same axis as said lever;

spring means between said trip arm and said lever to resiliently couple said trip arm to said lever;

time controlled means engageable with said trip arm at pre-selected times to pivot said trip arm first in one direction and then in an opposite direction about said axis;

pivotal movement of said trip arm, when said lock means is in said second position, being eflective to pivot said lever via said spring means to operate said contacts;

pivotal movement of said trip arm, when said lock means is in said first position, being efiective to pivot said trip arm against the bias of said spring means without moving said lever.

12. A time switch in accordance with claim 11 in which:

said lock means is rectilinearly movable generally at right angles to the path of movement of said lever.

13. A time switch in accordance with claim 1 in which said actuator includes a trip arm and resilient means operably associated with said trip arm;

said first time controlled means includes an on trip lug engageable with said trip arm to move said actuator from said first position to said second position;

said second time controlled means includes an off trip lug engageable with said trip arm to move said actuator from said second position to said first position;

operation of said restraining means being effective to lock said actuator in either of its positions, said resilient means allowing movement of said trip arm by engagement with said on trip lug and said off trip lug without moving said actuator whenever said restraining means is operated.

14. A time switch in accordance with claim 6 which 5 further includes a shaft mounted on said support; and in which said trip arm and said lever are mounted on said shaft for pivotal movement relative to each other; and said spring means resiliently coupling said trip arm to said lever is a torsion spring. 15. A time switch in accordance with claim 11 in which said housing has a chamber therein; said dial is circular and is mounted on said housing to close one side of said chamber; said time controlled means comprises an on trip lug mounted on said dial and projecting into said chamber to engage and pivot said trip arm. in said first direction at a preselected" time, and an oil? trip lug mounted on said dial and projecting into said chamber to engage and pivot said trip arm in said other direction at a preselected time; a shaft mounted in said chamber in spaced parallel relation to said exposed face of said dial; said trip arm and said lever being mounted within said chamber and on said shaft for pivotal movement relative to each other; said trip arm projecting toward said dial for engagement by said trip lugs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

40 G. J. MAIER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A TIME SWITCH, THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORT; AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH INCLUDING CONTACTS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT; A SWITCH ACTUATOR OPERATING SAID SWITCH, SAID ACTUATOR BEING OPERABLE TO A FIRST POSITION TO OPEN SAID SWITCH CONTACTS, AND A SECOND POSITION TO CLOSE SAID SWITCH CONTACTS; MANUAL MEANS MOVING SAID ACTUATOR TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS TO MANUALLY OPERATED SAID SWITCH; FIRST TIME CONTROLLED MEANS AUTOMATICALLY MOVING SAID ACTUATOR FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION TO CLOSE SAID SWITCH CONTACTS AT A PRESELECTED TIME; SECOND TIME CONTROLLED MEANS AUTOMATICALLY MOVING SAID ACTUATOR FROM SAID SECOND POSITION TO SAID FIRST POSITION TO OPEN SAID SWITCH CONTACTS AT A PRESELECTED TIME; SAID TIME CONTROLLED MEANS EACH BEING MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE TO PRESET THE TIME AT WHICH THEY MOVE SAID ACTUATOR; AND MANUALLY OPERABLE RESTRAINING MEANS SELECTIVELY LOCKING SAID ACTUATOR IN SAID FIRST POSITION, AND IN SAID SECOND POSITION AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND TIME CONTROLLED MEANS, TO PREVENT AUTOMATIC OPERATION OF SAID SWITCH BY SAID TIME CONTROLLED MEANS, WHEN SAID RESTRAINING MEANS IS OPERATED. 